Scottish Executive

Care of Elderly People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what submissions it has received from East Dunbartonshire Council on the allocation of resources for the implementation of free personal care following the circular issued to local authority chief executives and others by the Chair of the Implementation Steering Group on 9 May 2002 and on what dates each such submission was received.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it received before 1 July 2002 from East Dunbartonshire Council about any likely loss of revenue to the council from charges for personal care at home following implementation of free personal care and on what dates it received any such information.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what submissions it has received from East Dunbartonshire Council since 1 July 2002 on the using up of any resources allocated to the council by means of (a) weekly revenue support grant payments or (b) any other payments for the implementation of free personal care.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what submissions it (a) received before (i) 31 March 2002 and (ii) 1 July 2002 and (b) has received to date from East Dunbartonshire Council about the demographic profile of the population aged 65 years and over and resident in the council's area in respect of implementation of free personal care.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it received from East Dunbartonshire Council before 1 July 2002 on the average number of nursing home residents in the East Dunbartonshire Council area and to which years any such information related.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments it (a) received before 1 July 2002 and (b) has received to date from East Dunbartonshire Council of the number of people aged 65 years and over for whom assessments of personal care need had been made by or on behalf of the council.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it (a) received before 1 July 2002 and (b) has received to date from East Dunbartonshire Council about any likely revenue costs to the council arising from the implementation of free personal care for people living at home.

Mr Frank McAveety: We have received no submissions from East Dunbartonshire Council.

Care of Elderly People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it received before 1 July 2002 from East Dunbartonshire Council on the number of self-funding residents in residential and nursing homes in the council's area and on what dates it received any such information.

Mr Frank McAveety: We received no information from East Dunbartonshire Council.

  Information on the number of self-funding residents in care homes is available annually from the Residential Care Homes Census (Scottish Executive) and the Nursing Homes Census (Information and Statistics Division, Scotland). Following consultation with COSLA, the latest figures from these two censuses were used in the allocation of funds relating to free personal care.

Care of Elderly People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been made available in (a) the East Dunbartonshire Council area and (b) Scotland for investment in home-based care services and for infrastructure costs to support the implementation of free personal care.

Mr Frank McAveety: Estimates of the immediate cost of providing free personal care suggested that from within East Dunbartonshire’s overall allocation of £2.255 million, £837,000 could be available in 2002-03 for investment in home-based services and infrastructure costs to support the implementation of free personal care. The first call on the total amount available however is to fund free personal care.

  Out of the total allocation across Scotland the equivalent amount was £52.7 million.

Care of Elderly People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial allocation it has made to East Dunbartonshire Council in order to provide for implementation by the council of free personal care for the periods (a) 1 July 2002 to 31 March 2003 and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Mr Frank McAveety: The allocation to East Dunbartonshire Council for implementation of free personal and nursing care for 2002-03 is £2.255 million; the allocation for 2003-04 is £3.060 million.

Childcare

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many childcare places there are currently per head of the population in comparison with the rest of the United Kingdom; whether it will provide details of their geographic distribution, and whether there are any plans to increase capacity.

Cathy Jamieson: We do not, as yet, have reliable data on the number of childcare places in Scotland. Our current monitoring arrangement (through the annual census of Children's Daycare and Pre-School Education Centres) provides data on numbers of children attending these services. However, the 2002 census data, which will be published on 10 September, will provide information on the number of places for the first time.

  Counting available places does not necessarily give a useful indication of whether needs are being met, for example breakfast club, after school and holiday provision will all be included as separate places, but each is satisfying a different requirement. Furthermore, one "place" may be used by more than one child, since many parents do not require formal childcare full-time. Our view is that although data on both numbers of children and places is required, we need to supplement that with updated research into parent's needs.

  From the 2001 Census of Children’s Daycare and Pre-School Education Centres, we estimate that one-in-five of 0- to 14-year-olds in Scotland were attending pre-school or daycare provision in January 2001. This is broadly the same as the rate in England.

  We are also examining the scope for setting clearer targets for Childcare Partnerships. These might include specific increases in the level of provision across different types of childcare, which would help to identify the level and type of provision available and where the gaps are.

  Childcare provision is being expanded through Childcare Strategy funding. £16.75 million this year and next is being channelled through local authorities who, with their Childcare Partnerships, are expected to address and meet local childcare needs. In addition, the New Opportunities Fund current and third round childcare programmes (totalling £46.3 million) are designed to support both new and existing childcare projects.

Digital Technology

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any study of the competitive opportunities in comparison with England which could be created by providing uniform availability of low pricing for broadband access across Scotland.

Iain Gray: No. However, as part of Project ATLAS, Scottish Enterprise has carried out a benchmarking study comparing prices for a range of broadband services in Scotland with the UK. Its findings support the concepts being developed and implemented within Project ATLAS, which aims to increase competition, provide a wider choice of services and minimise barriers to market entry.

Digital Technology

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to extend the provision of asymmetrical digital subscriber line technology.

Iain Gray: Asymmetrical digital subscriber line technology deployment is a commercial decision for the providers, usually related to demand. The Scottish programme under the UK Broadband fund addresses the need to stimulate demand through the development of a number of broadband demonstration centres and a broadband information website managed by the enterprise networks.

Digital Technology

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its target deadline is for the provision of asymmetrical digital subscriber line technology (ADSL) throughout Scotland.

Iain Gray: ADSL deployment will be a matter for the commercial providers.

  The UK Government has set a general target on broadband which is to "have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005" and the Scottish Executive’s broadband strategy is designed to contribute to this overall objective.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary 1 to primary 3 classes there are with exactly 30 pupils in each local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is set out in the table:

  Stage P1-P3 Single Stage Classes in Publicly Funded Primary Schools with exactly 30 pupils1

  





Number 
  



Scotland 
  

484 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

9 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

3 
  



Angus 
  

8 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

2 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

11 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

6 
  



Dundee City 
  

32 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

22 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

14 
  



East Lothian 
  

10 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

22 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

50 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

0 
  



Falkirk 
  

26 
  



Fife 
  

21 
  



Glasgow City 
  

47 
  



Highland 
  

10 
  



Inverclyde 
  

9 
  



Midlothian 
  

5 
  



Moray 
  

6 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

21 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

28 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

0 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

9 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

26 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

3 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

0 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

12 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

45 
  



Stirling 
  

4 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

6 
  



West Lothian 
  

17 
  



  Note:

  1. Source: September 2001 School Census.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary 1 to primary 3 pupils are taught in composite classes in each local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is set out in the table:

  Percentage of P1-P3 Pupils who are taught in a Composite Class in Publicly Funded Primary Schools1

  





% of P1 - P3 pupils taught in composite 
  classes 
  



Scotland 
  

23.1% 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

11.5% 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

35.3% 
  



Angus 
  

28.2% 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

43.3% 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

14.6% 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

44.2% 
  



Dundee City 
  

10.8% 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

20.8% 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

13.9% 
  



East Lothian 
  

17.8% 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

6.0% 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

11.1% 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

79.1% 
  



Falkirk 
  

14.7% 
  



Fife 
  

23.9% 
  



Glasgow City 
  

19.0% 
  



Highland 
  

45.5% 
  



Inverclyde 
  

17.8% 
  



Midlothian 
  

17.9% 
  



Moray 
  

34.7% 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

19.0% 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

22.5% 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

32.1% 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

32.0% 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

8.5% 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

40.5% 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

43.5% 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

20.1% 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

27.3% 
  



Stirling 
  

24.4% 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

16.7% 
  



West Lothian 
  

22.2% 
  



  Note:

  1. Source: September 2001 School Census.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of pupils began primary 1 in a composite class in each local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on class composition is only available centrally from the school census, which does not take place at the start of the school term. Information on the number and percentage of P1 pupils in composite classes for the week of the school census is set out in the table:

  Percentage of P1 Pupils in Composite Classes in Publicly Funded Primary Schools 20011

  





Number of P1 pupils in composite classes 
  

Total number of P1 pupils 
  

% of P1 pupils in composite classes 
  



Scotland 
  

9,089 
  

56,528 
  

16.1% 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

119 
  

1,906 
  

6.2% 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

793 
  

2,644 
  

30.0% 
  



Angus 
  

282 
  

1,210 
  

23.3% 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

326 
  

931 
  

35.0% 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

57 
  

573 
  

9.9% 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

649 
  

1,612 
  

40.3% 
  



Dundee City 
  

108 
  

1,565 
  

6.9% 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

225 
  

1,334 
  

16.9% 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

90 
  

1,319 
  

6.8% 
  



East Lothian 
  

133 
  

1,143 
  

11.6% 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

48 
  

1,214 
  

4.0% 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

203 
  

3,952 
  

5.1% 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

231 
  

283 
  

81.6% 
  



Falkirk 
  

151 
  

1,691 
  

8.9% 
  



Fife 
  

603 
  

3,989 
  

15.1% 
  



Glasgow City 
  

654 
  

6,140 
  

10.7% 
  



Highland 
  

875 
  

2,336 
  

37.5% 
  



Inverclyde 
  

75 
  

931 
  

8.1% 
  



Midlothian 
  

79 
  

972 
  

8.1% 
  



Moray 
  

288 
  

1,027 
  

28.0% 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

248 
  

1,616 
  

15.3% 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

427 
  

4,000 
  

10.7% 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

75 
  

227 
  

33.0% 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

396 
  

1,436 
  

27.6% 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

124 
  

2,061 
  

6.0% 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

370 
  

1,152 
  

32.1% 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

99 
  

263 
  

37.6% 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

205 
  

1,238 
  

16.6% 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

647 
  

3,483 
  

18.6% 
  



Stirling 
  

175 
  

981 
  

17.8% 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

88 
  

1,129 
  

7.8% 
  



West Lothian 
  

246 
  

2,170 
  

11.3% 
  



  Note:

  1. Source: September 2001 School Census.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has done into the effects of being taught in a composite class on the educational attainment of children.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has not carried out research into the effect of composite classes on attainment as such. There has been some international research into multi-grade classes that suggests that such classes have no consistent effect upon attainment but there is no consensus on this issue. We intend as part of the Scottish Executive research programme to conduct research into the effect of class organisation on attainment in 2003 and that project will also consider the effect of class size and composite classes.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to local authorities on staffing standards in primary schools and, if so, what that guidance is.

Cathy Jamieson: The Schools (Scotland) Code 1956 as amended by the Schools (Scotland) Code (Amendment No. 1) Regulations 1972 established minimum staffing levels. Although this is still in force it has been overtaken by recent legislation on class sizes in primary 1 to 3 stages and teachers’ conditions of service agreements on class sizes.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average class size is in primary schools, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is contained in Table 30 of Statistical Bulletin number Edn/B1/2002/03 covering the Summary Results of the September 2001 School Census, published on 20 June 2002 by the Scottish Executive. A copy of the Bulletin is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 22064).

Enterprise

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23613 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 12 March 2002, whether the feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women’s enterprise, originally scheduled to be concluded by the end of May 2002, will now be published.

Iain Gray: A feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women's enterprise was undertaken by the Paisley Enterprise Research Centre of the University of Paisley. The Executive is currently considering the report and will shortly announce arrangements for its publication.

Enterprise

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a national centre for women’s enterprise to bring a specific focus to the start-up and support of businesses run by women and to develop and disseminate best practice.

Iain Gray: The Executive is currently considering the case for a national centre for women's enterprise. No final decision has yet been reached.

Enterprise

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop a strategic framework for women’s enterprise.

Iain Gray: Business advice and support for women is delivered by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Scottish Executive acknowledge that these services should reflect the specific needs of current or potential women entrepreneurs. The need for a national centre for women's enterprise is currently under consideration.

Fire Safety

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , how many individuals were identified as being responsible for fire raisings of the 8,815 malicious fires.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , in respect of what proportion of the maliciously raised fires fire raisers were identified.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , how many fire raisers were charged with the deaths of the 11 individuals who died as a result of malicious fire raising and what proportion of those deaths were covered by charges laid.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , how many of those charged with causing death through malicious fire raising were convicted.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , what sentence each of those convicted of causing death through malicious fire raising received.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , in respect of what proportion of the 8,100 malicious false fire alarms individuals were identified as allegedly being responsible; against how many of these individuals charges were laid, and what proportion of the total incidences these cases represent.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , how many individuals were prosecuted in respect of the 8,100 malicious false fire alarms, and what proportion of the total incidences these prosecutions represent.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , how many individuals were convicted in respect of the 8,100 malicious false fire alarms, and what proportion of the total incidences these convictions represent.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , what range of sentences was imposed on those convicted of raising malicious false fire alarms.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

Fire Safety

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , how many of the alleged fire raisers were prosecuted.

Mr Jim Wallace: A total of 134 persons were proceeded against in 2000 where fire-raising was the main charge involved.

Fire Safety

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002 , how many of the alleged fire raisers were convicted.

Mr Jim Wallace: A total of 103 persons had a charge proved in criminal proceedings in 2000 where the main charge involved was fire-raising.

Higher Education

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist single parents living in remote areas to enter suitable tertiary education.

Iain Gray: In addition to the standard maintenance support provided through the student loan, students who are lone parents are entitled to receive the Lone Parents’ Grant of £1,100 and up to a further £1,025 towards the cost of formal childcare. They are also entitled to receive the Dependants’ Grant of £2,225 for the first child with additional amounts for other children dependent upon their age and, if their children are aged between three and 16, the School Meals Grant (£255 or £275 dependent upon age). We have also asked institutions, when making awards of up to £2,000 from the new discretionary Mature Students Bursary Fund, to give priority to students who are lone parents.

  All students are entitled to assistance with travel costs worth up to £930 for an independent student living in his/her own home with up to £15 per week more for courses which last longer than 30 weeks. Students who live in Orkney, Shetland or the Western Isles can, exceptionally, receive support with air fares and students who suffer financial hardship or who have dependants or high travelling expenses may be able to receive 50% of their travel costs in advance during the first term.

Higher Education

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist former students who did not complete tertiary education to return to such education at a later stage in their lives.

Iain Gray: All students returning to higher education to undertake a second properly designated full-time course are entitled to living cost support in the form of a student loan and non-repayable supplementary grants, regardless of study previously undertaken. Tuition fee and bursary assistance are, however, dependent upon previous study. Such support is available for the duration of the longer of the two courses less the number of years previously supported (withdrawal during an academic year is counted as a full year). This rule does not apply to those who withdraw during the first year of their first course.

  Students returning to further education to undertake a properly designated full-time course are eligible for funding for their second course provided they have not received more than the equivalent of 129 weeks of full-time support within the last six years and have not received support within the last four years unless (a) they were registered as a job seeker for a continuous period of at least three months immediately prior to enrolling (in which case support can have been received within the last two years) or (b) they last received support for a course which enabled them to progress towards the course for which they now require support. The four year rule can be breached by a student for other reasons, but not if they have already done so within the previous four years.

  All full-time students in either further or higher education will be able to receive full support to repeat a year of study which they have been unable to complete because of medical reasons (this concession is also awarded on compassionate grounds). All students are also expected to meet the standard residence criteria.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Office intends to carry out a review of the case of Gordon Gibson.

Colin Boyd QC: Senior Officials from the Crown Office have met members of Mr Gibson's family to discuss with them their concerns about the outcome of the case against William Wilson. The Crown's approach to this case has been reviewed in the light of the concerns raised by the family. The Lord Advocate is satisfied that the decisions taken by the prosecution were appropriate, having regard to the state of the evidence available to the Crown.

Justice

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how litigants may make representations in respect of the conduct of a sheriff who they feel has not competently handled the case.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is open to parties in a case to appeal against a decision of a sheriff to a higher court. If litigants wish to register a complaint about the actings of a sheriff they may write to the Sheriff Principal of the relevant sheriffdom or to the Judicial Appointments Division of the Scottish Executive Justice Department, Hayweight House, 23 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh EH3 9DQ.

Justice

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how sheriffs' performance is assessed.

Mr Jim Wallace: Sheriffs are independent of the Executive and there is no formal assessment of performance. Complaints about performance may be investigated in the manner described in the answer given to question S1W-27835 today.

Justice

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive with what on-going training programmes sheriffs are required to comply.

Mr Jim Wallace: Training is not compulsory although the practice is for all new members of the Judiciary to attend induction training at the time of their first appointment. Training programmes are organised and run by the independent Judicial Studies Committee which is funded by my department. The programme has been extended in recent years to include refresher training for experienced people and I am advised that substantial numbers of sheriffs attend training events.

Justice

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it or the Lord Advocate has to discipline any sheriff found to be incompetent to perform the functions of the office.

Mr Jim Wallace: Under Section 12 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 the First Minister may establish an investigation into the fitness for office of any sheriff. During such an investigation the sheriff may be suspended from office. If the First Minister receives a report to the effect that a sheriff is unfit he may make an order removing the sheriff from office. The order would be subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated from the learning disability services change fund to each local authority through grant aided expenditure allocations for 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Mr Frank McAveety: The total provision for Learning Disability Change Fund is £8 million in 2001-02, and £12 million in 2002-03. The resources are being allocated through the general local government settlement distribution - separate allocations for each authority have not been published, but are included within the settlement total each authority receives.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is planned to be allocated from the learning disability services change fund to each local authority through grant aided expenditure allocations for 2003-04.

Mr Frank McAveety: The total provision for Learning Disabilities Change Fund is £16 million in 2003-04, recurring thereafter. The resources are being allocated through the general local government settlement distribution - separate allocations for each authority have not been published, but are included within the settlement total each authority receives.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the level and efficacy of spend from the funding allocated from the learning disability services change fund to local authorities.

Mr Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26763 on 27 June 2002.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on learning and disability services by each local authority in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Mr Frank McAveety: The information is provided in Section 6 of the annual  CIPFA Rating Review Actual of Income & Expenditure 2000-01 (Bib no. 19781) and section 4 of the CIPFA Rating Review Estimates of Income & Expenditure 2001-02 (Bib no. 17055) copies of which are available in the Parliament’s resource centre.

Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the implementation group for The Same as You? last met; what issues were discussed, and what the membership of the group has been from its inception to date.

Mr Frank McAveety: All this information, including the minutes of the last meeting of The same as you? Implementation Group on 10 May 2002, is available on the Review of Services for People with a Learning Disability website at

  www.scotland.gov.uk/ldsr.

Police

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the findings of the Police Grant Aided Expenditure Working Group.

Mr Jim Wallace: The working group is expected to make recommendations later this year. When they do so, a full report of the processes and analysis involved in the GAE review will be published.

Police

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider allocating more resources to Grampian Police for the policing of royal residences and offshore installations.

Mr Jim Wallace: The review of police GAE funding is well under way, under the auspices of a working group comprising the Executive, COSLA and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS). It is however, too early to say what the results of the review will be. I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27788 today.

Police

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers there are currently per head of population in each police force area.

Mr Jim Wallace: The number of police officers in each force, at 30 June 2002, expressed per 1,000 population is shown in the following table.

  


Force 
  

Estimated
Population 
  

Number of
Police Officers 
  

Number per
1,000 population 
  



Central 
  

278,000 
  

719 
  

2.59 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

145,800 
  

480 
  

3.29 
  



Fife 
  

350,400 
  

897 
  

2.56 
  



Grampian 
  

523,400 
  

1,254 
  

2.40 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

890,500 
  

2,688 
  

3.02 
  



Northern 
  

277,700 
  

693 
  

2.49 
  



Strathclyde 
  

2,263,300 
  

7,313 
  

3.23 
  



Tayside 
  

385,500 
  

1,181 
  

3.06 
  



Total 
  

5,114,600 
  

15,225 
  

2.98

Police

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many recorded crimes there were in each police force area in 2001-02.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Recorded Crimes in Each Police Force Area in 2001-02

  


Police Force Area 
  

Number of recorded crimes 
  



Central 
  

17,174 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

8,126 
  



Fife 
  

28,043 
  



Grampian 
  

43,704 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

79,862 
  



Northern 
  

14,238 
  



Strathclyde 
  

203,824 
  



Tayside 
  

31,340 
  



Scotland 
  

426,311

Police

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes per police officer were committed in each police force area in 2001-02.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Recorded Crimes Per Police Officer1 in Each Police Force Area in 2001-02

  


Police Force Area 
  

Recorded crimes per police officer 
  



Central 
  

24 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

17 
  



Fife 
  

31 
  



Grampian 
  

35 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

30 
  



Northern 
  

21 
  



Strathclyde 
  

28 
  



Tayside 
  

27 
  



Scotland 
  

28 
  



  Note:

  1. Numbers of police officers as at 31 March 2002.

Scottish Enterprise

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors progress by Scottish Enterprise against the agreed operating plan targets and, if so, how.

Iain Gray: The Management Statement issued by the Scottish Executive to Scottish Enterprise requires that they submit statements twice a year to the Executive showing performance against each of the key operating targets identified in their annual operating plan. In addition, on a quarterly basis, Scottish Enterprise prepares a statement of performance against operating plan targets for its board, which is copied to the Scottish Executive.

Scottish Executive

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to hold a meeting involving direct public interaction similar to practice by the Welsh devolved administration.

Mr Jack McConnell: All Scottish Executive Ministers meet the public on a regular basis, learn from their views and answer questions about policies. Scottish ministers will continue to do so as appropriate.

Social Economy

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why there is not a target in the Scottish Enterprise operating plan for 2002-03 for the number of Social Economy organisations assisted as in 2001-02 and how it intends to monitor performance in this area.

Iain Gray: Scottish Enterprise plays an important part in achieving social justice objectives. The Executive was satisfied that the current operating plan includes outputs relating to inclusion across a range of activities including business starts and skills and learning. Scottish Enterprise reports to the Executive on performance against these targets. While no numerical target was set in the operating plan for 2002-03 for support to social economy organisations, Scottish Enterprise will provide business development and training support services to those who have reached or have the potential to reach a degree of commercial development and trading maturity.

Social Inclusion

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop children’s centres in each of the 20% most disadvantaged areas to ensure the best possible start in life by providing access to health, education and other services for children and their parents.

Cathy Jamieson: Closing the opportunity gap for Scotland’s children is a key policy for the Executive. Through Sure Start Scotland we provide resources to give every child the best possible start in life. This supports joint-agency integrated service provision, which is often provided through children’s centres. The Changing Children’s Services Fund is a further source of resources to act as a catalyst for better integration of health, education, social work and voluntary sector services to improve outcomes for vulnerable and deprived children. All these resources are weighted heavily by local authority area to reflect deprivation levels.